You've probably seen the headlines or that one viral TikTok claiming a $1390 stimulus check 2025 is hitting bank accounts any day now. It sounds great, doesn't it? A nice little boost from the IRS to help with the grocery bill or that lingering credit card balance. But if you’re sitting by your mailbox waiting for a shiny new federal check, I have some news you might not like.
Basically, there is no new federal stimulus program.
The IRS hasn't announced a fourth round of Economic Impact Payments. Congress hasn't passed a bill for it. Honestly, the whole "$1390" figure is a bit of a ghost—a number that keeps popping up in social media loops but doesn't actually exist in any official government ledger for 2025.
Where the $1390 Stimulus Check 2025 Rumor Actually Comes From
It’s kinda fascinating how these numbers get stuck in the public consciousness. Usually, these rumors are a "telephone game" version of real news. In this case, the $1390 figure is likely a garbled mix of the old **$1,400 Recovery Rebate Credit** from the pandemic era and various state-level tax rebates.
Back in early 2025, there was a final push for people to claim their 2021 stimulus money before the April 15 deadline. If you missed your check three years ago, you could still get it by filing a tax return. But for the vast majority of people, that money is long gone.
The "One, Big, Beautiful Bill" and New Tax Credits
You might have heard about the One, Big, Beautiful Bill passed in July 2025. It changed a lot of things for 2026 tax filings, like creating a deduction for car loan interest and adjusting the business mileage rate to 72.5 cents. But it did not include a direct "stimulus check" for 2025.
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What’s Really Happening with Your Money in 2025
While the federal government isn't sending out a flat $1390, there are several real ways money is moving into people's pockets this year. If you’re feeling a bit let down, don't worry—there’s actually some decent news on the state level and with Social Security.
- State-Level Rebates: Some states have massive surpluses and are actually sharing the wealth. For instance, New York started mailing "inflation refund checks" late last year, with payments ranging from $150 to $400. Georgia is also doing rebates between $250 and $500 for eligible filers.
- Social Security COLA: Starting in January 2025, Social Security and SSI beneficiaries saw a 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). While a $50 monthly bump isn't a $1390 lump sum, it’s permanent.
- The Social Security Fairness Act: This is a big one. It basically scrapped the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Because of this, millions of retirees—especially teachers and firefighters—got one-time retroactive payments in March 2025. For some, those checks were way bigger than $1390.
The "Tariff Dividend" Confusion
There’s another reason the $1390 stimulus check 2025 keyword is trending. During the 2024 campaign and throughout 2025, there has been talk about a "Tariff Dividend" or "American Worker Rebate."
Senator Josh Hawley introduced the American Worker Rebate Act, which proposed sending checks to taxpayers funded by revenue from foreign tariffs. President Trump has also floated the idea of a $2,000 "dividend."
Here is the catch:
- It hasn't passed Congress.
- The math is... shaky. Experts at the Tax Foundation and the CRFB have pointed out that even with high tariffs, there might not be enough "extra" cash to send everyone $2,000 or even $1,390 without blowing a hole in the deficit.
- Legal battles over the constitutionality of the tariffs are currently tied up in the Supreme Court.
So, while the idea of a check is being debated in D.C., nothing has been signed into law.
How to Spot a Stimulus Scam
Whenever people start searching for terms like "$1390 stimulus check 2025," scammers come out of the woodwork. They’re good at what they do. They’ll send you a text with a link that looks like an IRS portal or call you saying you need to "verify your identity" to claim your funds.
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Never give your Social Security number or bank info to someone who calls you about a stimulus check. The IRS will never text you to ask for personal information. If a check is real, it usually just shows up in the mail or hits the bank account you used for your last tax return. No "processing fee" required.
Why the $1390 Stimulus Check 2025 Still Matters to You
Even if the check isn't real, the fact that you're looking for it tells a story. Prices are still high. People are feeling the squeeze.
While you shouldn't count on a $1390 windfall from the feds, you should check your state's Department of Revenue website. You might be one of the millions of people in states like Virginia, Oregon, or Georgia who are actually owed a rebate from a state surplus.
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Actionable Steps to Take Today
- Check your State Refund Status: Go to your state’s official ".gov" tax website. Look for terms like "Surplus Refund" or "Inflation Relief."
- Review your 2021 Taxes: If you never got the third stimulus check (the $1,400 one), you might still have a tiny window to claim it via a tax amendment, though the standard deadline has passed.
- Update your IRS "My Account": Make sure your address and direct deposit info are current on IRS.gov. If a new credit is ever passed, you’ll be first in line.
- Ignore the noise: If an article or video says "The $1390 checks are being mailed TODAY," and it doesn't link to an official IRS.gov press release, it’s probably clickbait.
Stay skeptical and keep an eye on your local state news—that’s where the real money is hiding these days.